135 years and counting
135 years and counting
1871
Original structure built by attorney Colonel. John A. Keith as "Keith's Arcade". This structure is still intact and remains the shell for the current front half of the Crump today.
1889
After his first opera house a block away burned down, John S. Crump purchases the Keith's Arcade building at auction for $6,000. Crump and local architect Charles Sparrell draw up design plans heavily influenced by Louis Holwager's Grand Opera House in Madison, Indiana. The current auditorium was added behind the original building.
Crump's New Theatre opened October 30, 1889.
1920
A massive remodel first imagined by the late John S, Crump begins. Everything from the stage forward, to the Third Street sidewalk, was gutted except for the coffered ceiling design in the auditorium.
The façade of the old Keith's Arcade building was removed entirely and what had originally been two separate and unique buildings became one. The auditorium expanded toward Third Street as still evident by the ceiling finishes.
1941
Owner Truman Rembusch hires architect Alden Meranda to once again remodel the building in the art deco style of Rembusch's other theatres in Columbus, and surrounding cities.
The remodel was ahead of its time and has remained the same ever since.
1940-1980’s
The Crump predominantly became a movie theater and popular hangout for date nights across the county.
Decemeber 1978
The three adjacent buildings to the east caught fire in the middle of the night and burned. The Crump was miraculously spared from the flames, especially given that the fire originated in the neighboring business.
1980-2000’s
After two modern movie theaters opened in the newly constructed Commons mall in sight of the Crump, ticket sales dropped dramatically. Seats were removed from the balcony to reduce seating capacity for lower prices on films from the distribution companies. Operating as the ‘dollar theater’ downtown for several years, the ability to fund the upkeep fell behind and eventually the doors were locked.
In 2001, Rovene Quiqley, who had been volunteering at the Crump since 1993, became the Executive Director known as the “Queen of the Crump” helping to keep it safe from the wrecking ball. In addition to her organizing the “Save the Crump” grassroots volunteer movement, she even occasionally programmed the theatre with local musical acts who needed a place to perform. Rovene tirelessly protected the Crump until her retirement in 2014.
2019
In the fall of 2019, The Crump Project, a new volunteer effort began the process of cleaning up the mothballed historic theater under the guidance of Hutch Schumaker and new Facility Manager Jessica Schnepp, with the goal of opening the doors to the public once again. With hundreds of people from the community and local businesses donating labor, materials, or financial support, by 2023, the Crump was able to open its doors once again to a curious public who could now see the potential of this historic venue.
2024
Columbus Capital Foundation forms an advisory committee to help make a sustainable vision and plan for the future of the Crump as a performing arts venue once again.